South Korea preparing to request military talks with North Korea: official
Updated: 2017-07-16 14:57:47 KST

South Korea is likely to request military talks with North Korea as early as this week, with the aim of halting mutual hostile actions.
A government official, who asked not to be named, said Sunday that relevant ministries are discussing the plan.
It comes a day after North Korea responded to President Moon Jae-in's peace initiative to re-engage with Pyongyang -- dubbed the Berlin Declaration.
During a speech in the German capital this month, President Moon said the two sides should mutually halt hostile acts across the military demarcation line, in line with the 64th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Treaty on July 27th. that ended the Korean War in 1953.
On Saturday, a commentary in the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main state-run newspaper -- criticized the overall content of the declaration, but said it was fortunate the Moon administration respects landmark joint declarations between the two Koreas.
The commentary added that the first step to mend relations should be solving fundamental issues, such as military confrontation.